A 5 day/4 night trip in Yosemite’s Cathedral Range cut short to an overnighter due to the Oak Fire, which, unknown to us at the time, started the afternoon that we began our trip. The morning started with clear blue skies, but the first night’s evening became tainted with smoke and eventually falling ash. By the morning of day 2 it was obvious that our trip was in jeopardy. However, we remained optimistic and held onto a chance for a shift in wind, but after cresting a pass and peering into a sea of smoke, we knew it was time to bail. We descended the pass quickly to the trail below and headed back to Tuolumne Meadows.
Lyell Fork of the Tuolumne River
Elizabeth Lake and Unicorn Peak
Echo Creek canyon
A dry Echo Creek
En route to Nelson Lake with an ominous sign
Nelson Lake
Nelson Lake (looking northeast)
Nelson Lake at sunset
The next morning w/ smoke
En route to Reymann Lake looking back at Nelson
Reymann Lake from start of pass
At the pass looking up at Rafferty Peak
Heading down the pass looking out to what should be a beautiful view (Fletcher, Vogelsang)
Almost down to the Rafferty Creek Trail/Tuolulmne “Pass”
Back near Tuolumne Meadows
